The announcement came as an official electronic notification to university officials
Aug. 20 and caps a process that began in 2006, when CBU hired Dr. Anthony Lyle Donaldson
as founding dean of the university's new engineering school.

"This accreditation is an important milestone for the College of Engineering and
allows our graduates to compete on an equal footing with graduates from around the
world," Donaldson said. "Its achievement is a result of vision and a tremendous amount
of work and support on the part of our faculty, staff, administration and community
partners. Also to be commended are the students and families of the first several
classes of students whose faith has been rewarded."

The first class of engineering students began in the 2007-2008 academic year and
graduated in 2011. Following ABET policy, CBU applied for accreditation immediately
after that graduation. The ABET accreditation is retroactive to 2011 to include all
graduates of the three CBU degree programs.

The program has grown from 53 students and one faculty member in the fall of 2007
to more than 350 students and 22 full-time faculty and staff in the fall of 2012.
Degrees are offered in civil engineering, construction management, electrical and
computer engineering, mechanical engineering and engineering (with concentrations
in bioengineering, business, global applications, pre-law and pre-med). Chemical engineering
and graduate programs are in the planning stages for rollout soon.